Perhaps youve always wondered how public radio gets that smooth, well-crafted sound. Maybe youre thinking about starting a podcast, and want some tips from the pros. Or maybe storytelling has always been a passion of yours, and you want to learn to do it more effectively. Whatever the case—whether youre an avid NPR listener or you aspire to create your own audio, or both—Sound Reporting: The NPR Guide to Audio Journalism and Production will give you a rare tour of the world of a professional broadcaster. Jonathan Kern, who has trained NPRs on-air staff for years, is a gifted guide, able to narrate a day in the life of a host and lay out the nuts and bolts of production with equal wit and warmth. Along the way, he explains the importance of writing the way you speak, reveals how NPR books guests ranging from world leaders to neighborhood newsmakers, and gives sage advice on everything from proposing stories to editors to maintaining balance and objectivity. Best of all—because NPR wouldnt be NPR without its array of distinctive voices—lively examples from popular shows and colorful anecdotes from favorite personalities animate each chapter. As public radios audience of millions can attest, NPRs unique guiding principles and technical expertise combine to connect with listeners like no other medium can. With todays technologies allowing more people to turn their home computers into broadcast studios, Sound Reporting couldnt have arrived at a better moment to reveal the secrets behind the story of NPRs success.